Steam-turbine



H. H. WAH'.

STEAM TURBINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.28, l9l6.

1N. 0 M J w 1 0 1H M M v m N W W J m v NNN a P WN 7 UNITED STATES PATEN'I'gQEFICE.

HENRY H. WAIT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MIDl/VEST ENGINE COMPANY OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

STEAM'-TURBINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. VAIT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, State of Illinois, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Steam-Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more specifically to turbines of the vertical type, that is to say which rotate upon a Vertical axis and consists in certain novel features of construction hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. 7

It is to be understood, however, that the specific disclosure is for the purpose of exemplifying only and that the scope of the invention is defined in the following claims, in which I have endeavored to distinguish it from the prior art, so far as known to me, without, however, relinquishing or abandoning any portion or feature thereof.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing represent the machine in vertical section, the parts being shown in elevation, Fig. 1 showing the upper part of the machine and Fig. 2 the lower part thereof, there being a slight overlap in the-illustration to better show the relation of the parts; and Fig. 3 is a vertical se'ction of a detail on an enlarged scale.

The casing of the wheel chamber comprises an upper section 3 and a lower section 4 between which sections a packed joint 5 is formed in the horizontal plane, the parts being joined together by bolts 6. The casing rests directly upon supporting casing 7 whlch, as shown in Fig. 2, 1s concentric with but of smaller diameter, leaving about the periphery of the end section of the cas-i ing an annular space 8, easy of'access in which are formed the openings for the nozzle, for the inspection of the blades of the wheel, etc., as will presently appear. The

annular casing 7 is in turn supportedby' a spider or base 9, bolted thereto at 10 and comprising legs-or standardsll, permitting ready access to the interior thereof. The turbine shaft 12 extends through packed openings in the casing and carries the turloine wheel 13 within the casing, the shaft at its lower end extending through the eas- Specification of Letters Patent. Patnted N 16, 1920;

Application filed August 28, 1916. Serial No surrounded by a band'18. The'body of the,

wheel is formed from a circular plate of steel by cutting it away on its under surface to form a shallow wide annular groove 19 thus providing a convenient means for insertingthe rivets securing the buckets to the Wheel, the heads of which rivets are shown at 20. A pair of hub plates 21', 21 are bolted to the opposite sides of the wheel respectively thus giving a hub of sufficient extent for firmly securing the wheel-to the shaft without the possibility of relative movement between these parts. The body of the wheel is plane on its upper side but chamfered at 22. Thus'the hubs and wheel constitute a stepped descent from the shaft to the periphery of the Wheel without any intermediate rises or upward turns whereby the accumulation ofiwater, scale, or dirt upon the upper'faces of the wheel is prevented. The upper section or wall of the wheel casing is formed at 23 with an arcuate peripheral bulge or extension which receives the return guide 24, which it will be understood is arranged substantially opposite the nozzle 25 for the introduction of steam to the Wheel, and receives steam on its first discharge from the wheel and returns it thereto, as in other turbines of this type. V

. The under section of the wall of the wheel casing is formed with a circular opening opposite the extension 23 which receives the dome 26 upon which the nozzle 25 is opening for the dome being'formed in the outer periphery of the lower section, is easy of access for assembling, disassembling, and repairing or construction. Substantially opposite the tip of the nozzle 25 the casing is formed witha peek opening 31 which is closed by a screw plug and only opened for the inspection of the alinement and of the wheel buckets. 7

The shaft opening 32 in the lower section is formed with a rabbet or chamber 33, the upper end of which is closed by the annular diaphragm 3e, engaging the shoulder 35 and closely surrounding the shaft. For greater ease of assembling and disassembling, said diaphragm is divided diametrically, the halves being secured by bolts ex tending through registermg openlngs 36 in the respective halves of the diaphragm. An annular cover plate 37 fitting about the shaft'closes the lower opening of the chamher and between said plate and diaphragm, within the chamber, is a packing ring 38 which is composed, as commonly, of sections held together by a garter spring 39 and maintained in contact with plates 37 by a spring 40 interposed between said packing ring and diaphragm 34c. The lower shaft opening in the turbine casing is further packed by means of a cap a1 which is rabbeted at 42 to receive plate '37 and again at 4L3,to form a chamber within'which a packing ring 44 similar to that described above is inclosed and forced against septum 80 by annular spring 45. A second chamber 46 is formed in the cap below chamber 43 for the reception of any steam which may escape past the two packing rings above described, and which chamber also incloses a collar 47 encircling the shaft and resting upon an inwardly turned flange 48 upon said cap. A'depression 49 is formed in the cap to drain condensation and leakage, and

- an eduction opening 50 threaded for the reception of the drain pipeconnects therewith.

The shaft is-packed with respect to the upper opening 51 in the casing in a very similar manner, the opening being formed with a rabbet or chamber 52 the lower end of which is closed by a diaphragm 53 seated upon the shoulder'54 and which contains the packing ring 55 and spring 56. Plate 57 closes the upper opening of said chamher and is'su'rrounded by a cap58 which is chamfered at 59forthe packing ring 60 and spring 61. Above said chamber a sec ond chamber62 is formed for thereception of steam and the water of condensation escaping past thepackings and said chamber 7 is provided with a threaded connection 63 for drain pipe. At its lower end the turbine shaft is journaled in, a lubricatin chamber 64 cast integral with casing With this in View the chamber is formed with an inner annulus 65 perforated at 66 for the passage of oil, as will presently ap pear, and provided witha bushing 67 which may be secured thereto. Within and above said chamber the shaft is reduced at 68 and receives a sleeve 69 which is bolted thereto at 70. The lower end of the sleeve is journaled within the bushing 67. In the lower part of the sleeve the chamber 71 is formed by reducing the shaft and reaming out the sleeve and the tube or pipe section 72 is driven into the opening 73 of the chamber through which the shaft extends upward within the annular chamber 71. The chamber 64 is closed by a cover 7 4: which extends into a groove 75 formed in sleeve 69 to prevent dirt and trash from falling into the chamber. The lower end of the sleeve is formed with radial perforations 7 6 extending from the inner to the outer face thereof and communicating with channels 77 formed in the bushing 67' as above described.

In operation the chamber is partially plying oil and is connected to an oil gage 7 9. The upper hearing by which the shaft is latera ly sustained'and supported is carried within the housing 15 which is supported upon the'upper casingsection by an integral spider 81 bolted to said section at 82. The housing 15 of the upper bearing is, like the chamber for the lower bearing, formed with'an inner annular wall 83, perforated at 84 for the flow of oil, and the shaft carries a'sleevex85 which is pinned thereto at 86, and revolves within a bushing 87' applied to the upper portion of said wall. The sleeve 85 is also perforated at 88 and reamed or cut away at 89 to form an annular chamber or space 90 to accommodate the tube or pipe section 91 extending upwardly from the bottom of the housing 15. I Thus, as in the previously described bearing, the oil with which the housing 15 is partially filled,

is driven outward through the'openings 88- by centrifugal force through the bearing of forced upon the reduced lower end 93 of'- the sleeve and abuts against the shoulder formed by such reduction. The lower race 94 rests upon an inwardly turned flange 95 of the interior wall 83, the balls 96' of suitable size and material transmit the weight from the upper to the lower race. Immediately beneath the opening in the bottom of housing 15 through which the shaft extends, the latter is provided with a nut 97, which substantially closes the opening about the shaft, and limits any vertical movement of the shaft. A gage 98 may be employed to indicate the depth of oil in the housing.

Above the sleeve 85, the shaft or spindle is provided with a speed governor which is constructed as follows: An annular casting 99 is pinned to the shaft at 100 and formed with parallel, diametrically opposite ribs 101 and grooves or seats 102, which form the fulcra of weight levers 103 of the governor. The upper end of the shaft or spindle is longitudinally bored at 104 to receive a follower 105, the lower end of which is provided with resilient metal plates 106, the lower ends of which bear upon notches or seats 107, formed on the inner end of levers 103, which project through slots 108 formed in the diametrically opposite sides of the hollow end of the shaft for this purpose. The plunger or follower 105 is connected to a sleeve 109 surrounding the shaft and longitudinally movable thereon, by a pin 109 extending through slots 103 formed in the walls of the hollow spindle, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and said sleeve is formed at the lower end with an outwardly turned flange 110, which receives the lower end of a helical spring 111, which is compressed between said flange and a cupped collar 112 screwed upon the upper end of said hollow shaft. By means of the collar the pressure of the spring may be suitably adjusted and resists the lifting effect of the levers 103 on the plunger when said levers are thrown outward by centrifugal force during the revolution of the shaft. The motion of the plunger controls the position of the balanced steam inlet valve 113. Said valve is connected by a pin-and-slot connection 114 to an arm 115 on a shaft 116, which also bears on its end outside the casing an arm 117, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, which is connected by a link 118 with a lever 119 pivoted on a bracket 120 extending from the governor casing 16. A spring 121 compressed between a bracket 122 on the wheel casing, and an adjustable collar 123 on the link tends to move the latter upward, and permits adjustment of the speed of the turbine while the wheel is in motion.

The upper end of the governor follower is bored at 124 and receives a spindle 125 formed integral with a cup housing 126 for a ball bearing intermediate the lever and follower. The housing is, formed with a central piece 127 which is surrounded by a ball race 128 and a set ofballs129. The upper ball race 130 is mounted. upon a support 131 which is formed on its upper surface with an adequate depression 132 and perforated at 133. The lever 119 carries a thrust rod 134 which is securely mounted in a bore in the end of said lever, and projecting through the governor housing 16 is rounded at the lower end to fit the, arcuate bearing upon the support 131.

The ball race 130 is somewhat smaller than the interior of the housing 126 so that some lateral movement is permitted and such movement is provided for by the arcuate bearing in the support 131 and the rounded end of the thrust rod 134. The last named element is likewise provided with an oil duct 135, the purpose of which duct and the oil hole 133 is to permit oil to be filled into the housing 126, and to lubricate the bearing and the lever, the plug 137 normally closing the opening. The housing is provided with a cap 138 threaded upon the upper end thereof and formed with a sleeve 139 extending through the opening in the governor housing.

The casing is formed with an additional inspection opening 140 located in the upturned flange of the lower casing section, which is made sufficiently deep for this purpose, thus bringing the line of separation of the upper and lower sections well above the periphery of the wheel. The exhaust opening for the casing is shown at 141.

In order to strengthen the top and bottom walls of the casing. the upper wall is formed with internal integral ribs 142 and the lower wall with internal radial ribs 143, 144, which terminate short either of the outer wall of the casing (ribs 144) or of the inner wall of the casing (ribs 143), and a drain passage is thus formed, which drains the entire lower wall of the casing through the exhaust opening for steam, which is indicated at 141. See Figs. 1 and 3.

I claim:

1. In a vertical turbine and in combination with the horizontal wheel and casing and vertical shaft thereof, a steam supply nozzle located below the wheel and adapted to direct steam onto the buckets thereof and a steam return guide secured to the casing and located above the Wheel and adapted to receive steam from the wheel and return it thereto.

2. A vertical steam turbine having a vertical shaft and horizontal wheel and chamher, a supporting casting for said wheel, a bearing housing formed integral with said casting and having an opening in its bottom for said shaft, an annular wall in said housing, a sleeve on the shaft journaled in said internal radial ribs formed integral with said bottom wall, of less length than the distance from the inner to the outer periphery of the chamber in the casing, whereby said wall is strengthened and water accumulating in said bottom wall permitted to flow to the drain opening.

HENRY H. WAIT. V

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